Max Holloway’s fabled run at featherweight has come to a conclusive end after he failed to clinch the 145lbs title after a rare third shot. Although ‘Blessed’ came up short in his bid to reclaim the throne, he’s now set his sights on a new challenge: moving up to the lightweight division. Holloway announced this news on his YouTube channel and naturally caught the attention of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

In a perfect scenario, a victory at UFC 309 against Michael Chandler would put Oliveira in prime position for another title shot against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. However, the Brazilian appears just as intrigued by the idea of competing for the BMF title, with ‘Blessed’ as his potential opponent.

Charles Oliveira feels his fight with Max Holloway might be ‘gigantic’

The first time Charles Oliveira faced off against Max Holloway was at UFC Fight Night 74 way back in 2015 at 145lbs. Unfortunately for Oliveira, an early injury cut the fight short just 1:39 into the first round, handing Holloway a TKO victory. Since that night, both fighters have evolved tremendously, each claiming titles in their respective divisions. As the Brazilian prepares for his upcoming showdown against former Bellator champion Michael Chandler, he reflects on how far he and Holloway have come.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Oliveira shared his thoughts on his career trajectory and potential future opponents. While he’s focused on reclaiming the lightweight belt—believing he lost it controversially—Oliveira didn’t shy away from the idea of a BMF title showdown with Holloway. When asked about facing Holloway for the BMF title, he responded enthusiastically, saying, “I’m about legacy. That’d be great. Why not? Being the BMF champ would be monumental for that.”

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On the other side of the fence, Chandler for a long period waited to take on one of the biggest superstars of the sport Conor McGregor. But unfortunately both for him and the fans, his patience was rewarded with a setback. ‘Mystic Mac’ pulled out from his fight at the last moment because of a broken toe leaving ‘Iron’ uncertain about his next fight. However, the 38-year-old feels he has now found himself the perfect opponent.

Michael Chandler is excited to take on Charles Oliveira in his next fight

After nearly two years of anticipation and setbacks, Michael Chandler has finally moved past his planned showdown with Conor McGregor. Fans were surprised by the announcement of his next opponent—none other than Charles Oliveira—set for UFC 309. According to the former Bellator champion, this fight against Oliveira is the “next best thing” after McGregor. Chandler recently spoke with New York Sports, sharing his candid thoughts about the upcoming battle at Madison Square Garden, a fight that he believes could propel him straight to a title shot.

Reflecting on his journey and this pivotal matchup, Chandler said, “I knew that the Conor McGregor fight would either come together quickly or not at all and that I’d need to focus on someone else. Now here we are, with this huge opportunity against Charles Oliveira—the No. 1 contender, five rounds, co-main event on the Jon Jones vs. Stipe card at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most iconic arena.”

Chandler, currently boasting a 23-8 record, sees the former 155lbs king as the perfect opponent to solidify his path to the title. Confident in his preparation, he added, “It’s not the Conor fight, but if you could think of the next best thing, this is probably it. We’re working towards that title.”

Will Michael Chandler prevail over Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 and secure his place in line for the title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!